The Wenatchee has a class 2 section from Lake Wenatchee to Tumwater CG. It sounds like there's 16 miles of it! Never been on it, so I can't report about wood. Put the first part (take out in Plain) is the chiller of the 2 sections. From Plain to the takeout is more class 2 action and scenery from what I've been told.

“A strong person and a waterfall always channel their own path.” -Unknown

Oh yes! The Sauk - SO gorgeous... Yesterday at 1110 CFS I paddled from Clear Creek down to Darrington Mill. Only 3 miles, but really fun II+ Easy choices: just stay left at every island.

You could do it twice or plan to take out at way down at Sauk Park, or a little sooner: the Bridge just after The Suiattle joins in.

The BEST was the 9 miles further up: from Bedal Campground to Whitechuck. The Sauk is still crystal before the glacial till of The Whitechuck blends in. But be warned: the very last run, in sight of the bridge, is probably a IV... (That sound right?, those in The Know?). But it's short and we just swam out after our inevitable flips...

I would recommend the Sauk as well. Never done the lower, but seen lots of photos recently and it sounds like a great class II.

As for the upper, yes the rapid right near the takeout is more difficult. I would call it class III. It is a low gradient boulder garden. The upper has beautiful mountain views but it is also pretty woody and getting pretty low currently. Probably pretty similar to the upper middle snoqualmie.

Buzz - when we went down Sunday, there was a scrape or three, so it would be nicer with a little more flow, which, today, now, is up to 1220...

Re wood: never had to carry, though there were maybe four times where attention was mandatory to make the right choices. When isn't it?!? And the first few miles have some stuff that was the hardest I've negotiated, after lower Sky, both forks of the Stilly, and that lower Sauk from Clear Creek, all agreed upon as Class II mostly, so that upper upper Sauk must be at least II+ or III-.... But relative to all of it, the boulders and drop at the end was something else for sure. Really fun and intense for where we're at. There's a foot trail leads to right above it and I want to spend a day looping that section before the water is gone.

Buzz - have you paddled down from Whitechuck yet? How do those sections compare to the drop above the bridge?

Yup, I"ve paddled the section below whitechuck. I'd say it's mostly III+. It is a significant step up from the last rapid on the upper. I think you have the right idea - lap that rapid until you are comfortable, then you can think about doing the whitechuck down section.

Oh yes! The Sauk - SO gorgeous... Yesterday at 1110 CFS I paddled from Clear Creek down to Darrington Mill. Only 3 miles, but really fun II+ Easy choices: just stay left at every island.

You could do it twice or plan to take out at way down at Sauk Park, or a little sooner: the Bridge just after The Suiattle joins in.

The BEST was the 9 miles further up: from Bedal Campground to Whitechuck. The Sauk is still crystal before the glacial till of The Whitechuck blends in. But be warned: the very last run, in sight of the bridge, is probably a IV... (That sound right?, those in The Know?). But it's short and we just swam out after our inevitable flips...

The last rapid on the upper Sauk is called Rocky Road. It's a pretty long rapid and is a legit class 3. It definitely stands out from other rapids on the run. At high water it is pushing class 4.

Dude! I’m in. I had some excellent Class III honing last weekend on The Wenatchee, and have been eyeing that Skagit as The Next Big Thing. But want to do it with some companeros!

Noon, then At the put in? (Goodell Creek boat launch), or the take out, and we can coordinate shuttles from there? I take my plated dirt bike in the back of my pickup, so I can self-shuttle, or...

Takeout
At mile 111.7 on Highway 20 there is a dirt road (NPS Road 213) leading south to the river (it's just before you reach the Ross Lake Recreation Area sign). Follow the dirt road and take the left fork to a takeout about 200 yards from the highway. Parking options are limited here. Leave room for others including commercial rafting groups that use the takeout. If you have a large group, extra vehicles should be parked at the put-in.

- Retired: all the time in The World to play, but most of my buddies work... Seeking weekday paddlers..!!!

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